JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri's public colleges and universities will be taking a state budget cut for the third straight year.

Gov. Jay Nixon announced a nearly $9 million cut for higher education Friday while signing Missouri's $24 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. He cited concerns about state revenues, including whether the Missouri Lottery can generate enough money to meet budget expectations.

Nixon said he believes the budget passed by lawmakers is $50 million out of balance. But he made just $15 million of cuts Friday and said he will re-evaluate the need for more cuts later. If circumstances improve, funding also could be restored.

Besides the higher education cuts, most of Friday's reductions were to new initiatives or programs that had been slotted for funding increases.

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